Vacuum tank



Mar. 3. 1925.

w. F. SCHULTZ VACUUM TANK 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct.

- ATTORNEYS.

Mar. 3, v1925.

, I w. F. SCHULTZ VACUUM TANK Filed oct. 11. 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 III INVENTOR.

A TTORNEYS Patented Mar. 3, 1925.

WILLIAM E. SCHULTZ, or Biron, WISCONSIN.

- vAoUUM- TANK.

Application niea October 11, 1923. Serial No. 667,958.

To all whom may concern inlet ports and valves and the mechanism Be itknown that'I, WILLIAM F SCHULTZ, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Ripon, in thecounty of Fond du Lac and 5 State of Wisconsin, have invented new and useful Improvementsin Vacuum Tanks, of which the following is a description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which area part of this specification. 10 This invention relates to improvements in vacuum tanks and more particularlyto vacuum tanks for use inconnection with internal combustion engines to transfer gasoline from the gasoline tank to the carburetor.

It is one of the objects of the present invention to provide a device of the class ports of the tank.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device ofthe class described which automatically draws in gasoline from the vehicle tank and discharges it to the engine carburetor.

A further object of the invention is to provide a vacuum tank which is of very simple construction, is strong and durable,

and is well adapted for the purpose described. With the above and other objects in view,

the invention consists of the improved vacuum tank and its parts and combinations as set forth in the claim, and all e'o uivalents thereof.

Referring now more particularly to accompanying drawing in which the same i the reference characters indicate the sameparts inall of the views:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of the improved vacuum tank;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sec tional View of the upper portion of the tank.

the

the

tank, the dividing partition being shown in section Fig. '4: is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 4.-l of Fig; 2; and

Fig. 5 is .anienlarged sectional view .of

the"

for operating the valves.

Referring to the drawing, it will be seen that the numeral 8 indicates a vacuum tank of cylindrical form. The interior of the tank is divided into an upper compartment 9 and a lower compartment 10 by means of a partition 11 welded therein. The lower compartment 10 is provided with an outlet 12 for connection with the carburetor (not shown) of a motor vehicle engine. second outlet 13' is provided, closed by a Also a plug 14:, to permit the draining of the tank 7 when desired' The top of the tank 8 is closed by a cover' 15 secured in position by screws 16. A hollowv depending portion 17 projects from the underside of the cover into compartment 9 and a-headportion 1 8 is positioned immedi ately above said depending portion and'in communication therewith, being secured by means of a bolt 19. As shown in Fig. 4, said bolt has a longitudinally extending aperture 20 therein and a transverse aperture 21 in communication with ape'rture20. Said head portion is formed with an internally threaded part 22 into which is threaded a tube or connection 23 which extends to the gasoline tank of the vehicle (not shown). Said con.- nection is adapted to feed gasoline into member 18 where it will pass through a screen 21 wrapped about the upper portion of said bolt 19 and through apertures 21 and 20. From thence, the gasoline will flow through an opening 25 formed in the de pending portion 17 and into the upper compartment of the tank, all of which will be hereinafter more fully explained.

Adjacent said head 18, an upstanding internally threaded portion 26 is formed having threaded therein a connection 27 which extends to the'intake manifold (not shown) of the vehicle engine. Said portion 26 opens into a chamber 28- formed in the cover memher which has threaded into its outer end portion, an air supply tube 29. Valve seats 30 and 31 adapted to receive valves 32 and 33 control the respective openings between said chamber2i8 and the intake manifold connection and 1 1 air supply tube. The

operation of said valves will be more fully explained hereinafter.

Vhen the valve 32 is in open position, there will be a direct open comn'iunication between the interior of the tank and the intake manifold of the vehicle engine. If the vehicle engine is in operation, the action of the pistonswill create a suction and the air will be exhausted from the interior of the tank, forming a vacuum therein. Consequently, the vacuum willcau'se gasoline to be drawn from the gasoline tank of the vehicle, through the connection 23 and bolt 19 into the upper chamber 9 of the tank. it float 34, within the the chamber 9 is adapted to be raised or lowered, as the-level of the gasoline within the chamber changes. Said float is carried by a longitudinally extending rod-35, the upper end of which is pivotally connected to a link 36, of fork-like formation with three arms 37, 38 and 39. The outer ends of the two outer arms 37 and 39 are pivotally connected to a downwardly depending bracket 40 by means of pivot bolts 4.1, while the arm- 38 carries a stop bar 38 to bear againsttho bracket -10 to limit the movement of the parts when the float is in its lowermost position. An inverted V -shaped member 4-2 is also pivotally connected to the bracket 40 by said pivot bolts.- A coiled spring 43 connected to the center arm 38 of member 36 and a bar l l; formed as a part of said member 42 imparts a quick-motion to said member 4-2, as will be more fully explained. Projecting upwardly-from the top of member 42 are a pair of spaced arms to arrangedito receive therebetween a shaft 46- which connects said valves '32 and 33 and'operates them simultaneously. It is obvious that when the level of gasoline 'withinthe chamber 9 rises, the

float will rise, thereby raising rod The movement of rod 35 will pivot said link36, causing the extremities of the arms thereof .to describe an arc; VVhen the extremities of said arms reach a point to either side of aline drawn through the points la, l? and 48, the tension exerted by the coiled spring 4:3 will move the V-shaped member L2 and consequently said valves wiicli are between thearms 45. 251; shown in Figs.-

l and fi, the'valves have'been-moved to the right thereby opening the intake manifold port and closing the air port. hen the float rises to a point at whichthespr'ing is to the leftof point M, the valves will be moved to the left, closing the intake manifold port and opening the air port. hen the intake manifold port is closed, obviously the suction from the cylinders will be shutoff and the-air rushing in from the air port will-equalize the'air pressure within the chamber 9- and no more gasoline will'be drawn from the-gasoline tank.

At this 'point'yit should be observed that the two compartments within the tank are separated by said partition 11. Positioned centrally through said partition is a tubular elbow member 49, the top of which is covered by a plate 50 having a central aperture 51 to permit the rod 35 to pass through, and also of suiiicient size to permit the how of gasoline therethroug'h. The lower end of the elbow member is normally closed by means of a door 52 connected as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. lVhengasoline is being fed into compartment 9, as has been explained, the suction heretofore mentioned will draw said door tightly against the end of the elbow member and prevent any gasoline from flowing therethrough into thelower lower compartment.

The operation of the vacuum tank is as follows: When the tank is empty,-the air port will be closed and'the intake manifold port open, as explained. Gasoline will then be drawn into compartment 9 until a predetermined level has beenreached. The

valves willtheir be snapped to a reverse positionand the door52 will open, permitting gasoline to flow into compartment 10 and to the carbureter. The level of the gasoline of the engine. A tube 53 admits air to the I will," of course-, lower until another prede vterm'ined level has-been reached, when the valves will moveto the first mentioned'position, and the operation will repeat itself.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that the improved vacuum tank for motor vehicles is of very simple and novel construction, and is well adapted for the purpose described.

lVhat I clalm'as my invention is: In a liquid feeding apparatus including a su l tank an auxiliar 1 vacuum tank and a source of suction, a valve arrangement for said vacuum tank comprising a pair of op-' posed ports opening to acominon-pass'age which communicates with the vacuum tank, a pair of valves for said ports respectively,

a common valve stem on which they are mounted' and spaced apartby distance different from that "between the two valve seats, a U-shaped member engaging opposite sides of the stem and guiding it for oscillation for alternate seating of said valves, one valve controlling a connection with a source of suction, and the-other controlling a n atmospheric vent, and means con trolled by the liquid in said tank to effect a quick oscillation of said valves, said last mentioned means c'ompri'sing'a float formed with a rod,'a forked-member'Pivotally con- 1,528,085 V r B nected to one end portion of said rod, a member, said V-shaped member carrying downwardly depending member secured adsaid U-s'naped valve stem engaging mem- 10 jacent said common passage, and having the her, and a coiled spring connected to said outer arms of said forked member pivoted V-shaped member and to said forked memthereto, said depending member cooperating her.

with a portion of said forked member to In testimony whereofiI afiix my signature.

limit the pivotal movement thereof, a V-shaped member pivoted to said depending V 7 WILLIAM F. SCHULTZ. v 

